Which Tea Party Candidates Won?

Candidates backed by the Tea Party scored major victories in Tuesday's mid-term elections even as some of its most high profile candidates suffered upsets.

From South Carolina to Wisconsin, candidates endorsed by Tea Party groups defeated Democrats in unlikely states.

Nikki Haley became the first woman and Indian-American governor in South Carolina.

One of the biggest Tea Party wins was in Wisconsin, where Republican businessman Ron Johnson defeated incumbent Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold.

Rand Paul, an ophthalmologist-turned-politician in Kentucky and one of the first major Tea Party candidates, defeated his opponent Democrat Jack Conway despite bitter campaigns that questioned his personal beliefs and ability to lead.

The Tea Party losses, however, were magnified in states that garnered the most attention.

Senate candidate Christine O'Donnell in Delaware lost by a wide margin to Chris Coons, her Democratic opponent. O'Donnell dominated the national spotlight after she released an ad in which she claimed she is "not a witch."

Sharron Angle, who won the prime spot to run against Senate majority leader Harry Reid, ultimately lost the election even as voters expressed discontent with the economy and the incumbent himself.

One widely discussed effect of public disenchantment this year was the rise of the Tea Party political movement. In preliminary exit poll results, 41 percent of voters described themselves as supporters of this movement; 21 percent supported it strongly. Thirty-one percent said they opposed the movement; the rest, 24 percent, were "neutral" about it.

Still, just 23 percent said they voted to send a message in favor of the Tea Party movement, versus 18 percent against it; 55 percent called the movement "not a factor" in their vote.

In nine Senate exit polls where voters were asked whether they were trying to send a pro-Tea Party message with their vote, no more than about one in four voters said they were. Kentucky and Missouri were at the top of that list.

In Delaware, voters said they were trying to send a message against the Tea Party.

ABC News has compiled a comprehensive guidebook to which Tea Party-backed U.S. Senate, House and gubernatorial candidates are coming to Washington and where they stand on key issues.

U.S. Senate Candidates

Sharron Angle, Nevada

Small business manager/substitute teacher, former state assemblywoman

Opponent: Sen. Harry Reid (D - incumbent)

Endorsed by Sarah Palin

Sharron Angle, a former state representative, lost the Nevada Senate race to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in a close election. Reid faced an extremely tight race and expensive campaign in a state plagued by a high unemployment race. However, Reid has faced other squeaker elections before, winning by only 524 votes in 1998. The race was also very personal, with both candidates hurling negative slogans at each other.

Ken Buck, Colorado

District Attorney, Weld County, Colorado

Opponent: Sen. Michael Bennet (D - incumbent)

District Attorney Ken Buck lost to incumbent Sen. Michael Bennet in a razor thin race. Although often cast as a Tea Party candidate, Buck told ABC News that "I don't see myself as a Tea Party candidate." Buck is against big government, including the recovery program, and tax increases. However, he supports gun rights, a strong national defense, and veterans' benefits. The conservative candidate recently came under fire after his remarks surfaced calling global warming a "hoax."

Jim DeMint, South Carolina

Leader in Tea Party movement who has endorsed conservative Republican candidates in races nationwide

Jim DeMint won re-election as the Senator from South Carolina by a large margin, defeating Democratic nominee, Alvin Greene, an unemployed former member of the military. Greene's win of the primary was considered a fluke as he lacks a website and held no campaign events. DeMint is a leader in the Tea Party movement, endorsing many conservative candidates. He stands for returning education policymaking to state and local levels, reductions in taxation and government spending, and increased veterans' benefits. He also is anti-abortion and opposed to legal residency for illegal aliens.

Ron Johnson, Wisconsin

Ron Johnson defeated Democratic incumbent Russ Feingold in the Wisconsin Senate race. Johnson has no prior political experience, but will use the knowledge he has gained as an accountant and manufacturer. Feingold criticized Johnson during a debate for his lack of experience, to which Johnson replied that he would be the only manufacturer in the Senate, which would give him the small-business perspective that longer-tenured politicians lack. Johnson supports cutting taxes and reducing government spending, as well as cracking down on illegal immigration through employer sanctions and tighter border security. He also has called Social Security a "Ponzi scheme."

Mike Lee, Utah

Mike Lee, a lawyer and former clerk to Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, defeated Democrat Sam Granato, a businessman, in the Utah Senate race. Lee was the favorite to win the race, after winning the primary. The Incumbent, Bob Bennett, was ousted at the Republican convention in May in a wave of anti-incumbency. http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=10987658 Lee wants to balance the federal budget by cutting spending. He also supports a flat tax and the repeal of health care reform. He opposes congressional term limits, abortion, and a path to legal residency for illegal immigrants.

Joe Miller, Alaska

The results are still pending from the Alaska senate race where attorney Joe Miller is in a tight race with write-in candidate, incumbent Lisa Murkowski, and Democrat Scott McAdams. Miller gained national publicity when we won the Republican primary, defeating Murkowski, who later made a run as a write-in candidate. Miller won the primary with support from the Tea party and the backing of Palin. During the campaign, Miller made some controversial comments suggesting Social Security should be privatized and Medicare should be phased out. Miller stands for limited government spending and the repeal of health care reform. He opposes abortion and environmental "cap and trade" proposals.

Christine O'Donnell, Delaware

Marketing consultant

Opponent: Chris Coons, county executive (D)

Endorsed by Sarah Palin

Christine O'Donnell was defeated in the Delaware race for U.S. Senate by Democrat Chris Coons, a county executive. O'Donnell gained nationwide attention when she won the Republican nomination, defeating Rep. Mike Castle. She is also known for her controversial remarks on the first amendment and provocative past remarks. This is her third unsuccessful Senate bid.

Rand Paul, Kentucky

Ophthalmologist

Opponent: Jack Conway, state attorney general (D)

Endorsed by Sarah Palin

After one of the nastiest races in the country, Rand Paul, an ophthalmologist, won the Kentucky Senate election, defeating Jack Conway, state attorney general. An ABC News exit poll shows he won by 23 point margin. Paul had the first major Tea party win of the night. The race was so contentious, that after a debate filled with personal attacks, Paul refused to shake Conway's hand. The Conway campaign did not back down from controversial ads and raised many questions about Paul's prior activities. Paul stands for lower taxes and a dramatic reduction in government spending. He opposes and government bailouts of private businesses, a path to legal residency for illegal immigrants.

Marco Rubio, Florida

Lawyer, former Speaker, State House of Representatives

Opponents: Rep. Kendrick Meek (D), Gov. Charlie Crist (I)

Marco Rubio won the three-way Florida Senate race, defeating Democrat Rep. Kendrick Meek and Independent Gov. Charlie Crist. Meek had been trailing in the polls. Crist became an Independent to avoid facing Rubio in the primary. Rubio is the son of Cuban immigrants and originally opposed Arizona's new harsh illegal immigration law. However, he now supports it since its scope has been narrowed. He also stands for balanced-budget amendment to the Constitution, gun rights and a repeal of the health care reform law.

Pat Toomey, Pennsylvania

Former U.S. Representative

Opponent: Rep. Joe Sestak (D)

Pat Toomey won the Pennsylvania Senate contest, defeating Democrat Rep. Joe Sestak. Sestak defeated incumbent Arlen Specter in the primary, but was behind Toomey in the polls. Toomey is the head of the anti-tax group Club for Growth, and has tried to tie Sestak to Obama's agenda. Toomey is a strong supporter of Second Amendment rights. He opposes the stimulus, abortion rights, and same-sex marriage.

Gubernatorial Candidates

Tom Emmer, Minnesota

State congressman

Opponent: Mark Dayton, former U.S. Senator (DLP)

Endorsed by Sarah Palin

The outcome of the Minnesota gubernatorial race has yet to be determined. Endorsed by Sarah Palin, Emmer was the choice of the state Republican Party over former Rep. Marty Seifert, who later bowed out of the race, and threw his support to his former foe. Emmer is a staunch opponent of health insurance mandates, the minimum wage, same-sex marriage and abortion rights.

Nikki Haley, South Carolina

State senator

Opponent: State Sen. Vince Sheheen (D)

Endorsed by Sarah Palin

State Rep. Nikki Haley won the South Carolina gubernatorial contest, defeating state Sen. Vincent Sheheen in a landslide victory. The political newcomer, who will serve as the state's first Indian-American governor, was endorsed by Sarah Palin in the GOP primary. A proponent of gun rights, and a staunch opponent of abortion rights, she has called for eliminating the corporate income tax, and imposing term limits on state legislators.

Dan Maes, Colorado

Businessman

Opponent: John Hickenlooper, Mayor of Denver (D)

Businessman Dan Maes lost the Colorado gubernatorial race to Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper. His defeat comes after a bitter three-way battle in which Constitution Party nominee and former Rep. Tom Tancredo turned up the heat on Maes to drop out of the race, and tried to compel defection of his supporters.

Carl Paladino, New York

Former CEO, Ellicott Development Company

Opponent: Andrew Cuomo, New York Attorney General (D)

Buffalo businessman Carl Paladino lost the New York gubernatorial contest to state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. After a surprise Republican primary win against Establishment candidate Rick Lazio, Paladino drew controversy at several turns, including a near shoving match with a New York Post reporter, and remarks on homosexuality.

Rick Perry, Texas

Governor of Texas

Opponent: Bill White, former Mayor of Houston, Texas

Endorsed by Sarah Palin

Texas Governor Rick Perry earned a third term in Austin, holding off former Houston Mayor Bill White after a close race in which Democrats poured a record amount of money into their candidate's campaign. Endorsed by Sarah Palin, Perry supports cutting taxes on individuals and businesses, reducing state spending, enhancing border security, tort reform, and increasing enrollment in state colleges and universities. He opposes abortion rights and the health care reform law.

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